Out with the old and in with the new

Instead of blabbing on how great 2008 was I'd rather look ahead at 2009 and the greater things yet to come!

But first...rewind to 4 years ago...2004...a year of politically and emotionally fired award-winning music albums. The year when Saint Bono and Good Ol' Billy sang about atomic bombs and American idiots. Where are these guys and their bands now? Well, 2009 seems to be heralding some new material in the form of new U2 and Green Day albums.



'No Line on the Horizon' is set to be released by March 2009 as opposed to later this year since Bono claims the band wanted to wait a little longer so that they can make 2009 their year.

Regarding the Green Day album no official details have been released as of yet. However, if the two albums are released around the same time then it will be a repeat head-to-head battle like the one we saw 4 years ago. Not that the albums spoke of the same topics but when you've got two heavyweights like Green Day and U2 involved, you've got to stand up and take note.

We just have to wait and see if the new stuff is worth all the hubbabaloo.

And as for concerts...this is the part where my toes wiggle with glee and my cheeks turn scarlet red. Do you remember last October when I randomly suggested a Blur reunion would be a great piece of news to hear?? Well, ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened!! Official news came out late November, early December and the band are going to perform in Hyde Park, London next year. Concert dates are set for July 2nd and 3rd. Tickets are on sale and it seems the July 3rd gig is already sold out. I am obviously trying to see how I can afford tickets to the show as I've already spent like 300 euro on travel expenses for 2009!! I'll just wait for more info as it seems they might be headlining next year's Glastonbury festival too. Tickets to that would be more prize-worthy especially seeing as another rockin' British Indie band which I love to bits will be there...FRANZ FERDINAND. The band are set to release a new album as well next year and have a UK and European Tour all lined up. Score!

Also, you thought the Norwegian duo 'Kings of Convenience' were never gonna clear the dust from their shelves, did you? Well, you're wrong. Despite the guys being in different projects and vocalist Erlend Øye working on the second 'The Whitest Boy Alive' album it seems their latest album since 2004 is coming out next year. The name is still a work in progress but the new material is bound to be great. It also seems the guys feel they need to get back to some live gigs under the KoC name. Good for them! Fans will much appreciate.



As for the highly anticipated events in Malta, next year...

No doubt that the return of Luuk Cox from Shameboy will be the crowning event of January 2009. Previously this year I wrote about Shameboy due to their growing popularity in Malta and my encounter with Luuk. The guy himself informed me that he will be back on January 23rd at Axis, Paceville. The event is already being advertised and is in various DJ gig diaries including Mathematikal, Junior B, Kenji and Squeak who will all be performing on the night. The event is organised by DONDISKO who are really giving a breath of fresh air to the dance scene with their fidget, electro and nu-disco themed events. Tickets are 10 euro and you can call on 79091884 for more info. Looking forward to that one...

Another cool, non-music related event is Swan Lake on Ice on the 10th-11th January. Yes, I do find ballet to be entertaining. The cool thing though is that it's gonna be more like figure skating but with a classic ballet theme. Last time I checked tickets were selling at about 25 euro for standard balcony seats. The event is the first of its kind in Malta and will take place at The Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

That's it for me and my visionary blog of the day.

I'll leave you with Resident's Advisor's Top 2008 music lists:-

• Top 30 dance and electronica tracks for 2008
• Top 20 dance and electronica albums for 2008
• Top 100 dance and electronica DJs for 2008

And remember we have a Leap Second this year at the midnight of New Year's Eve, to correct a time lapse on Earth. So that means you get to kiss that stranger at midnight a little bit longer. ;-) Also, if you're aiming for your last binge drinking session for 2008 at least make sure you don't drive afterwards. Don't get a lift with anyone who's drunk either. Have a fun merry-making evening! This is probably my last blog for 2008 unless I feel the urge to write some more album reviews. If not...well...see you all next year!!

TaMMy xxx

Alternatif, no?

11:30pm. Ryan's Irish Pub. A breezy Thursday night. Everyone at the table simultaneously hushes all forms of conversation and looks in the same direction. The man of the hour (or the past 6 days) has arrived and greets everyone as he takes a seat by Mathematikal's 'Jay Zinga'. Conversation soon picks up again as people buy another round of drinks and DJ Luuk Cox is officially acquainted to everyone by Jay. Jon is somewhere in Barcelona.

It's been a historic week of sorts as Maltese fans got to meet the hard-hitting Belgian duo Shameboy's very own Luuk Cox and also see him perform a smashing set last Saturday at Poxx Bar. Yesterday, was Luuk's last night on the island and fans gathered to talk about his work and share opinions on the house music scene. I didn't really get the chance for a one-to-one with the man but I did have a brief chat with him last Saturday. Too many eager fans.


Luuk is a very down-to-earth guy with a good sense of humour. He also has acute memory skills. He remembered all his Maltese fans' names from Facebook. Bonus points!! I also found out from the man himself that this was his 10th time in Malta. He regularly visits the country to work on production of his Shameboy singles as well as other Belgian bands' singles. His resume includes work done for Confuse the Cat (http://www.confusethecat.be/), Tim Vanhamel, Arsenal and Buscemi (http://www.buscemi.be/). Luuk sure has the technical skills required for production and DJing but he is also a musician at heart. He has lent his drumming skills to the aforementioned Buscemi who have been releasing albums since 1998. The band is currently on tour in Ibiza. I am curious to know whether he still tours with them or is now fully engrossed in the Shameboy project.

Speaking about Shameboy. Can you still call it a project? The Belgian funk-masters namely being Luuk and Discobar Galaxie's 'Jimmy Dewitt' (better known as DJ Bobby Ewing) now have two albums under their belt and an insane fan following. The two came from different groups but still did their own thing. Shameboy feels like a worthy collaboration between two great men of the trade and it all started at a festival in 2004. Rock Werchter. The rest was history.




The Shameboy sound itself has been described as electro-funk-punk and takes influences from Daft Punk and Kraftwerk. *bows down in appreciation* This just goes to prove the continued influence of such groups on music today. Their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/shameboy) also likens them to Altar Ego, Digitalism, MSTRKRFT and Black Strobe. What is interesting is the diverse elements of electronic music the band takes. Primarily, their main focus is to make you lose control of every physical particle in your body and shake what your momma gave ya! This they do with grand gusto.

Another thing I found interesting is a little quote I translated from the Belgian language from an interview on http://www.veto.be/. Of course, I could have got this wrong but here goes. Although it is blatantly apparent that the alternative crowd has warmed up to Shameboy there are also other listeners who appreciate the duo's devilish beats. Music channels like the Belgium TFM (The Music Factory) channel nominated Shameboy for Best Dance act in 2007. On being asked about the kind of audience Shameboy are aiming for the answer was a long one. However, one quote by Luuk caught my eye:

"You can no longer simply choose your audience. Your audience chooses you!"

This can be good and bad. It opens your market but can ultimately put you at the risk of generalisation. As I struggled to hear the DJ-to-fan conversation last night through a promotional river of beers and my double Martini Bianco, I could pick up waves of the same topic. The Maltese alternative scene knows its stuff but can fall into the popularity trap every so often due to the lack of alternative acts that hit our shores. People like Luigi Pellegrini from Alternative Malta and Stagedive Malta have really pushed the scene up front. However, most Maltese alternative youth must spend a large sum of their budgets on big festivals abroad in order to keep up with the new scene. It's difficult to get single acts let alone big festivals to set camp here.


Luuk believes that groups such as Soulwax are losing their fanbase because of this trap. There comes a time when a music act gets labelled or falls into some kind of brand. Some fans keep coming back to that familiar sound while others get bored and drift away. It is almost the same in every music genre but particularly so in the house scene. It gets worse when these groups start seeing only dollar signs in their eyes and put themselves on a pedestal. The best thing to do is to diversify your music according to your style and influences, and to always acknowledge that you never know what people want. If the audience understands and respects that then you're good to go. Never expect to stick to the same people but always show gratitude to these people. You never know who's watching. Just imagine, if Shameboy were to release their videos on other music channels like MTV you might even see them getting nominated on the EMAs. Alternative dance acts like Justice were nominated and won an EMA award for two years in a row. OK, so they won for Best Video which isn't something artists want to be remembered for but you must admit, the videos for Splend It and Heartcore are pretty cool.


Honestly, I had never heard of Shameboy before but I was familiar with DJ Bobby Ewing from the Discobar Galaxie fame. Luuk alone delivered a massive DJ set at Poxx Bar. The crowd especially went wild when he played their new track Heartcore. Who knows what mass destruction the two unleash when playing together?



Mathematikal were also the first reason I attended the event. I have been wanting to see these guys perform since the beginning because I had heard nothing but positive comments about them. I can't believe it took me so long to finally meet them. Their set was even crazier than I imagined. They threw everything in there from Michael Jackson to the A-Team theme song.


Their set is also animated by cool visuals putting not only their DJ but also their VJ skills to the test. Luuk did not use any visual media but was more interactive with the crowd. He's a teaser too. He makes the crowd work to get what they want and then hits it on them hard. Finally, back-to-back the two were pure magic. The crowd was happier than a band of babbling, butt-naked baboons. Looksie here ------>


I also got a picture with Luuk. Wuhuu. Thanks mate!



All in all, it was a great night and a great week for alternative fans. It was also a great pleasure meeting Jon and Jay. They're really cool guys and barrels of laughs! *teehee* If I heard correctly last night, the two have been contacted regarding some festival performances. That sounds amazing and I wish them the best of luck. They've really given the music scene in Malta a breath of fresh air. Next performance, November 28th! Until then, keep on plonking! ;) (www.myspace.com/mathematikal)


Pictures courtesy of Yasmin K. ^^

Last Night a DJ saved My Life

I went out again last night.

Renaissance were back in Malta again for the Numero Uno summer closing party. This time they brought along the man that is PAOLO MOJO. Last year's party was just perfect, most probably, the best summer party I attended last year. The featured DJ was Fedde Le Grand and prior to him I was introduced to Funkerman who until then I hardly had any idea of. The latter was definitely the show stealer despite his shorter set. Very talented man.

Despite being a trance fan to the core, my musical transition has taken me to the minimal, tech-house and progressive genre for the past two years. Also, the last 12 months have instilled in me a love for deep/jackin/fidget house and a renewed interest in grime/garage/alternative house. I love the smooth and funk elements in this music. It's the perfect mix between that loungy soulful feel and that beat that make you move. In addition, God knows how much I love breakbeat and dubstep!!

Therefore, it came as a pleasant surprise when I heard Paolo Mojo's set last night amidst the moody settings that symbolise Numero Uno's clubbing trademark. I have to confess, this was one of those parties that I attended only because of its reputation rather than who was performing. I knew a few of Paolo's songs because he is in the tech house arena and he sometimes has a similar sound to Eric Prydz albeit a bit smoother. I hate comparing artists so I will stop here but it's just an observation.

This DJ has the 'Gift'. You know what that is? The 'Gift' is being able to be diverse in your musical repertoire and transmit this in a effortless combination of class and precision. I could see that Mojo was really into what he was doing and was feeding off the crowd. His set never faltered for a moment. Ironically, he added a few Pryda songs to his set including Muranyi and Pjanoo. These really blended in nicely. I was a bit dissapointed that he didn't play his original '1983' unless I missed it at some point (After I posted this DJ Ruby confirmed that it was indeed the last song in Paolo's set. Sorry about that! I wasn't sure cause I always confuse it with another song).

Overall, I loved every second. DJ Ryan and DJ Ruby also delivered the goods. And as usual, DJ Ruby also proved his amazing MC skills and hosting ability. This guy can do no wrong. Whatever he touches turns to gold. And that's how we like it. ;)

The next big parties I will be attending now are the following session of TDDR (The Devil Digs Rave) featuring Mathematikal and Luuk Cox from Shameboy and Eric Morillo LIVE at SKYclub.

Mathematikal are an Indie Electro-Funk duo who have been hitting the dancefloors for the past few years but only really kicked into the Maltese clubbing scene in the last 12 months. I have been reading many a great review and viewing a dozen good party pics of them. I also heard some of their stuff on their MySpace page. Shockingly, I have yet to see them perform live. So this is a golden opportunity for me. Plus, I will be back here to report on the night's events. You can also check the guys out for yourselves. This event is going to be held next Saturday 13th September at PoXX Bar, Paceville (near the Eden Century Cinemas). Tickets are only €5 and doors open at 10pm.

Check out this review on them featured in PlatinumLoveMagazine's e-mag:-
(copy and paste..sorry links are not working!!)
http://www.platinumlovemagazine.com/Issue.aspx?auth=x5ZPdLLsfGNIm8oPcfbtV56tmyWvcLOOiST05T2F5cE=

Shameboy are another clubbing duo but from Belgium. Their style is electro-punk, making next Saturday's sets a feast for the ears. Their MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/shameboy) says they sound like Altar Ego and Digitalism amongst others. If so, then I am really excited to check them out.

And Morillo? Self-explanatory.